Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Hoarseness
Introduction
Synonyms and keywords: hoarseness
Overview
Overview
Dysphonia is the medical term for hoarseness or other phonation disorders. It is considered much less severe than aphonia. Hoarseness can be a change in pitch, a rough sound of the voice, or an increased effort in speaking.
Classificaiton of Dysphonia
Classificaiton of Dysphonia
Based Upon Chronicity
- Acute hoarseness has a sudden onset and lasts fewer than 2 weeks
- Chronic hoarseness lasts longer than 2 weeks
Based Upon Pathophysiology
- Organic dysphonia
- Functional dysphonia
- Spasmodic dysphonia
Causes
Causes
Common Causes
- Aging
- Cold
- Foreign body in respiratory tract
- Hypothyroidism
- Laryngitis
- Laryngeal cancer
- Overstress of vocal cords (speaking, shouting, singing and crying)
- Sinusitis
- Tracheitis
Causes by Organ System
Causes in Alphabetical Order
In alphabetical order. [1] [2]
Acute
- Acute viral laryngitis
- Aortic aneurysm
- Aortic dissection
- Anaphylaxis
- Bacterial tracheitis / laryngitis
- Cerebrovascular accident (CVA)
- Chorditis
- Croup
- Deep space face and neck infection
- Epiglottitis
- Foreign body
- Head injury
- Laryngitis
- Laryngotracheobronchitis
- Overstress of vocal cords (speaking, shouting, singing, crying)
- Sinusitis
- Smoke irritation
- Surgery
- Trauma
- Upper Respiratory Infection
Chronic
- Aging
- Allergic Rhinitis
- Amyloidosis
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Aortic aneurysm
- Bronchial carcinoma
- Bronchogenic tumor
- Chondromas
- Chronic cough, severe cold
- Chronic inhalation of chemical irritant agents (professional activity)
- Chronic sinusitis
- Drugs
- Edema of vocal cords
- Esophageal tumor
- Excessively dry and warm room coupled with low water intake
- Foreign body
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
- Glomus jugulare tumor
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome
- Habitual aphonia
- Hemangioma
- Hemorrhage into vocal folds
- Hypothyroidism
- Juvenile dermatomyositis
- Laryngeal papillomatosis
- Laryngocelesventricular prolapse
- Laryngeal carcinoma
- Left atrial enlargement
- Lipoma
- Lung cancer
- Menopause
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Neural tumor
- Neurofibroma
- Papillomas
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Postsurgical
- Psychogenic aphonia
- Puberty
- Reinke’s Edema
- Retention cysts
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Sarcoidosis
- Spastic dysphonia
- Squamous Cell Carcinoma
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Thyroid tumor
- Ventricular dysphonias
- Virilization
- Vocal cord nodules
- Vocal fold cyst
- Vocal cord paralysis
- Vocal cord polyps
- Wegener’s Granulotomosis
Diagnosis
Diagnosis
History and Symptoms
History and Symptoms
The following should be characterized as part of a full history:
- Onset
- Duration
- Prior history
- Exposure
- Medications
- Voice use
- Associated symptoms
- Medical history
- Surgical history
- Trauma
Physical Examination
Physical Examination
- Focus on neck, head, lung, thyroid and cardiac exams
- Evaluate voice quality
Laboratory Findings
Laboratory Findings
- Thyroid function tests to rule out hypothyroidism
X-Ray
- Chest X-ray
- Lateral neck X-ray
MRI and CT
Other Diagnostic Studies
Treatment
Treatment
- Airway, breathing and circulation
- Voice rest
- Diet modification (GERD)
- Stop smoking
- Wear protective clothing or masks (if hoarseness is due to exposure)
- Treat underlying etiologies
- Voice therapy
Pharmacotherapy
Pharmacotherapy
Acute Pharmacotherapies
Surgery and Device Based Therapy
Surgery and Device Based Therapy
- Surgical intervention for abscesses, masses
- Cricothyrotomy or tracheostomy (to establish airway)
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]